Hangzhou
is the capital of Zhejiang
province and its political, economic and cultural center.
With its famous natural beauty and cultural heritages, Hangzhou is one
of China's most important tourist venues.
The City, the southern terminus of the Grand Canal, is located on the
lower reaches of the Qiantang River in southeast China, a superior
position in the Yangtze Delta and only 180 kilometers from Shanghai.
Hangzhou has a subtropical monsoon type climate with four quite
distinct seasons. However, it is neither too hot in summer nor too cold in winter making
it a year round destination.
The
West Lake is undoubtedly the most renowned feature of
Hangzhou, noted for the scenic beauty that blends naturally with many
famous historical and cultural sites. In this scenic area, Solitary
Hill, the Mausoleum of General Yue Fei, the Six Harmonies Pagoda and
the Ling Yin Temple are probably the most frequently visited
attractions.
The "Ten West Lake Prospects" have been specially selected to give the
visitor outstanding views of the lake, mountains and monuments.
A number of national museums can be found in Hangzhou and are
representative of Chinese culture. Fine examples are the National Silk
Museum and Tea Museum. Along with the other museums in Hangzhou, they
provide a fascinating insight into the history of Chinese traditional
products.
One of the most important parts of traveling is tasting the local
delicacies. Hangzhou dishes are noted for their elaborate preparation,
sophisticated cooking and refreshing taste. Many local specialties will
be sure to make your trip a cultural experience. We recommend that you
try Beggar's Chicken (a chicken baked in clay), West Lake Fish (vinegar
coated fish fresh caught from the lake), Dongpo Pork (braised pork) and
Fried Shrimps with Longjing Tea, etc.
The
shopping environment in Hangzhou is exciting and convenient. Travelers
and tourists like to go to Qing He Fang Street. It is one of the most
famous and historic streets in the city and reflects many of the
features of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Shoppers will admire
the antique buildings while purchasing items from a wide range of local
goods such as silks, tea or maybe a silk parasol, brocade or a
beautiful Hangzhou fan. These are just some of the items to be found
but there are many more.
At night Hangzhou has much to offer and teahouses and various kinds of
pubs are both plentiful and popular. Choosing one overlooking the West
Lake for a pleasant chat over a cup of tea is sure to make you feel
totally relaxed and refreshed.
While much of the ancient city that had been the capital of the
Southern Song Dynasty was destroyed during the Taiping Rebellion in the
mid-nineteenth century, today's Hangzhou is a modern and vibrant
economical center. As such it provides a base for many talented and
skilled people. Never the less, thanks to its unique setting by the
West Lake it continues to enjoy the many benefits of the natural
surroundings that have delighted visitors for centuries. Not only was
it much vaunted in his writings by the 13th century explorer, Marco
Polo but the Lake and its environs have inspired poets of great renown
such as Bai Juyi and Su Dongpo down the ages. There can be no doubt
that visit here is certain to be a memorable one.
Some Famous Scenes in Hangzhou
Broken
Bridge
The
Broken Bridge lies at the eastern end of the White Causeway. According
to the Joumal of West Lake Visit in the Ming Dynasty, the place was so
named because the White Causeway from the Solitary Hill was cut off
here. The Broken Bridge is the most famous bridge at the West Lake. Ts
name is seen in the folktale of Madam White Snake, where the touching
and sad love story of Lady White and Xu Xian begins when they meet at
the Broken Bridge and borrow the umbrella as their love-promise.
The scene of their reunion at the Broken Bridge after suffering lots of
hardships has made every Broken Bridge visitor fall into a long
reverie. In addition, the Remaining Snow on the Broken Bridge is also
one of the famous "Ten Scenes of the West Lake".
Baoshu
Pagoda
Reposed onthe Baoshi Hill, the Baoshu Pagoda was first built in the period of
the Northern Song Dynasty, ruined and rebuilt many times later. Now a
solid hexagonal pagoda with 7 stories and with a height of 45.3 meters,
it was built in 1933 according to the design of the Ming Dynasty. The
body of the pagoda is straight and slight, looking very much like a
fair lady, slim and graceful, standing by the West Lake.
It is one of the symbols of the West Lake, praised by people as "Baoshu
the fair lady".
Three
Pools Mirroring the Moon
The
Three
Pools Mirroring the Moon is one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake. The
three stone pagodas are 2 meters in height respectively, and were first
built 800 years ago on the bank of the lake.Spherical in shape, they
are hollowed inside, with 5 holes on the surface of the bulb. When the
full moon is shining high above in the sky, people would light candles
in the pagodas and seal the holes with thin paper. Shining through the
holes, the candlelight is reflected on the surface of the water as if
there were many little moons, producing a marvelous scene of "one moon
in the sky, three silhouettes in the water". The Three Pools Mirroring
the Moon is thus named.
Autumn
Moon on Calm Lake
Also one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake, the Autumn Moon on Calm
Lake is located at the western end of the White Causeway, surrounded by
water on its three sides and against the Solitary Hill on its back.
With an open and calm water surface, the place is best for watching
moon on the Mid Autumn Festival, hence its name. The spot has an area
of 6,000 sq. meters, with many pavilions, stages, and plant gardens in
it.
Yue
Fei Temple
Located
on the bank of the Yue Lake at the northwest comer of the West Lake,
the Yue Fei Temple was first built in 1221, and consisted of the Temple
of the Martyr, the Loyalty Enlightenment Hall and the Yue Fei Tomb. In
the Temple of the Martyr, there is a statue of the national hero Yue
Fei, with a huge tablet suspended above, inscribed on which is Yue
Fei's words in his own handwriting-"give back my rivers and mountains".
Six
Harmonies Pagoda
Loc
acted on the north bank of the Qiantang River to the south of the city,
the Six Harmonies Pagoda was first built in the year of 970, with a
purpose of keeping down the river's tide. Rebuilt in 1153, today's
pagoda was nearly 60 meters high, a pavilion-style structure of brick
and timber, with 8 facets and 7 stories. Seen from the outside, it has
13 stories, but it has only 7 inside, with 6 of them closed and the
seventh floor connected with the body of the pagoda, where there are
numerous brick statues. Ascending to the top of the pagoda and looking
down, one has a panoramic view of the beauty of the Qiantang River,
feeling as if "standing above the highest level of the sky".
In 1993, on the Yuelun Hill behind the Six harmonies Pagoda was built a
Chinese Ancient Pagoda Exhibition Park, collecting and building nearly
a hundred miniatures of famous pagodas in the history of China.
Visitors can see ancient pagodas with various artistic designs and
architectural features in the Pagoda Park.
Fish
Wonder at Huagang Crook
The
Huagang Park (Flower Harbor Park) lies at the southern end of the Su
Causeway, against the West Hill, and has an area of 20 hectares. In the
park there are four sections, the Peony Yard, the Red Fish Pool, the
Thick Forest Zone and the New Flower Harbor. In the Peony Yard there
are more than 800 species of peony, the Red Fish Pool is full of
flowers and plants, with fish playing in the water and breeze bringing
petals every where, thus presenting a poetic scene of "flowers touching
the fish and the fish kissing the flowers".
Prince
Bay Park
The
Prince Bay Park lies at the south hill road, against the Nanping Hill,
with an area of 300 mu (1/15 of a hectare). It is the largest park for
wedding celebration, with smart and natural artistic taste, suitable
for Western-style wedding. There are programs such as "Love Forever"
and "A Devoted Couple". The wedding ceremony begins with the merry
Wedding March, with the bride holding flowers hand in hand with the
bridegroom, walking across the tiny bridge through an open lawn to a
wedding church. They'll come upon a red heart shaped carpet in a rain
of colorful paper flakes and will receive the colored ribbons and
release pigeons before sitting down at the round table. The ceremony
girls will take to them a big bottle of champagne and present them with
a red card to congratulate them on their marriage, and ask the couple
to drink form a nuptial cup. At the end of the ceremony, the couple
will be carried to the small room in the wood in a bridal sedan chair,
where they will perform a special ritual in the bridal chamber after
kowtowing to the heaven and earth, and to their parents. Afterwards,
the couple will ride in a horse-drawn carriage and go into the
Western-style garden by a winding pathway, where they will have a
wedding feast with their families, thus putting an end to the
Western-style wedding. To the park has been added the Lover's
Column and Lover's Post Office and other attractions, to create a merry
and romantic atmosphere.
Xiling
Seal Club
Located by the side of the Xiling Bridge at the Solitary Hill, the
Xiling Seal Club is a famous academic group of epigraphy and seal
cutting study in China. It was first established in 1904 and became a
formal organization in 1913, with Wu Changshuo, the famous painter
being the first director. It has some tourist attractions such as the
Bamboo Attic, the Cypress Patio, the Huayan Lection Pagoda and the
Sizhao Loft. There is a "Stele for the Anniversary of the Death of
Three Elders in Translation" in the Three Elders' Chamber, which can
date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, and was viewed as a treasure by
archaeologists both at home and abroad.
GMP 2008 : : Geometric Modeling and Processing 2008 April 23-25, 2008, Hangzhou, China
too cold in winter making
it a year round destination. 
The
shopping environment in Hangzhou is exciting and convenient. Travelers
and tourists like to go to Qing He Fang Street. It is one of the most
famous and historic streets in the city and reflects many of the
features of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Shoppers will admire
the antique buildings while purchasing items from a wide range of local
goods such as silks, tea or maybe a silk parasol, brocade or a
beautiful Hangzhou fan. These are just some of the items to be found
but there are many more. 
The
Broken Bridge lies at the eastern end of the White Causeway. According
to the Joumal of West Lake Visit in the Ming Dynasty, the place was so
named because the White Causeway from the Solitary Hill was cut off
here. The Broken Bridge is the most famous bridge at the West Lake. Ts
name is seen in the folktale of Madam White Snake, where the touching
and sad love story of Lady White and Xu Xian begins when they meet at
the Broken Bridge and borrow the umbrella as their love-promise. 
period of
the Northern Song Dynasty, ruined and rebuilt many times later. Now a
solid hexagonal pagoda with 7 stories and with a height of 45.3 meters,
it was built in 1933 according to the design of the Ming Dynasty. The
body of the pagoda is straight and slight, looking very much like a
fair lady, slim and graceful, standing by the West Lake. 
The
Three
Pools Mirroring the Moon is one of the Ten Scenes of the West Lake. The
three stone pagodas are 2 meters in height respectively, and were first
built 800 years ago on the bank of the lake.Spherical in shape, they
are hollowed inside, with 5 holes on the surface of the bulb. When the
full moon is shining high above in the sky, people would light candles
in the pagodas and seal the holes with thin paper. Shining through the
holes, the candlelight is reflected on the surface of the water as if
there were many little moons, producing a marvelous scene of "one moon
in the sky, three silhouettes in the water". The Three Pools Mirroring
the Moon is thus named. 
Located
on the bank of the Yue Lake at the northwest comer of the West Lake,
the Yue Fei Temple was first built in 1221, and consisted of the Temple
of the Martyr, the Loyalty Enlightenment Hall and the Yue Fei Tomb. In
the Temple of the Martyr, there is a statue of the national hero Yue
Fei, with a huge tablet suspended above, inscribed on which is Yue
Fei's words in his own handwriting-"give back my rivers and mountains".
Loc
acted on the north bank of the Qiantang River to the south of the city,
the Six Harmonies Pagoda was first built in the year of 970, with a
purpose of keeping down the river's tide. Rebuilt in 1153, today's
pagoda was nearly 60 meters high, a pavilion-style structure of brick
and timber, with 8 facets and 7 stories. Seen from the outside, it has
13 stories, but it has only 7 inside, with 6 of them closed and the
seventh floor connected with the body of the pagoda, where there are
numerous brick statues. Ascending to the top of the pagoda and looking
down, one has a panoramic view of the beauty of the Qiantang River,
feeling as if "standing above the highest level of the sky".
In 1993, on the Yuelun Hill behind the Six harmonies Pagoda was built a
Chinese Ancient Pagoda Exhibition Park, collecting and building nearly
a hundred miniatures of famous pagodas in the history of China.
Visitors can see ancient pagodas with various artistic designs and
architectural features in the Pagoda Park. 
The
Huagang Park (Flower Harbor Park) lies at the southern end of the Su
Causeway, against the West Hill, and has an area of 20 hectares. In the
park there are four sections, the Peony Yard, the Red Fish Pool, the
Thick Forest Zone and the New Flower Harbor. In the Peony Yard there
are more than 800 species of peony, the Red Fish Pool is full of
flowers and plants, with fish playing in the water and breeze bringing
petals every where, thus presenting a poetic scene of "flowers touching
the fish and the fish kissing the flowers". 
The
Prince Bay Park lies at the south hill road, against the Nanping Hill,
with an area of 300 mu (1/15 of a hectare). It is the largest park for
wedding celebration, with smart and natural artistic taste, suitable
for Western-style wedding. There are programs such as "Love Forever"
and "A Devoted Couple". The wedding ceremony begins with the merry
Wedding March, with the bride holding flowers hand in hand with the
bridegroom, walking across the tiny bridge through an open lawn to a
wedding church. They'll come upon a red heart shaped carpet in a rain
of colorful paper flakes and will receive the colored ribbons and
release pigeons before sitting down at the round table. The ceremony
girls will take to them a big bottle of champagne and present them with
a red card to congratulate them on their marriage, and ask the couple
to drink form a nuptial cup. At the end of the ceremony, the couple
will be carried to the small room in the wood in a bridal sedan chair,
where they will perform a special ritual in the bridal chamber after
kowtowing to the heaven and earth, and to their parents. Afterwards,
the couple will ride in a horse-drawn carriage and go into the
Western-style garden by a winding pathway, where they will have a
wedding feast with their families, thus putting an end to the
Western-style wedding. To the park has been added the Lover's
Column and Lover's Post Office and other attractions, to create a merry
and romantic atmosphere. 
Xiling
Seal Club 